Mission Statement

The BBS Diversity & Inclusion Council is committed to educating and serving the BBS community while enhancing cultural awareness, sensitivity, and growth. We strive to provide safe spaces for students of all backgrounds to express their concerns and challenges with their graduate school journey on a peer level and maintain active communication with faculty in hopes to promote a more inclusive BBS community. Our council will amplify student voices, particularly those of Black, Native, Latinxs, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, and other underrepresented student groups by serving as liaisons between students, the BBS community, and campus-wide resources to ensure well-rounded support is available.

Why Join the BBS D&I Council?

The D&I Council acknowledges that diversity encompasses multiple sectors. We recognize the importance of increasing diversity, as it fosters a variety of perspectives and ideas, leads to better problem-solving, expands representation of talented yet marginalized groups, and promotes innovation and long-term growth of our community. Therefore, the D&I Council welcomes all individuals, and your participation will benefit our community.  Participating in the D&I Council not only benefits others and the community, but it also provides a significant opportunity for your own growth. Joining the D&I Council offers career development, leadership opportunities, networking with peers, faculty mentors, and GFAs within and outside of the department, as well as access to internal resources.

Interested in joining and would like additional information, feel free to reach out to our current D&I Council members (contact information below).

Collaboration with Other Groups on Campus

BBS D&I Council highly collaborates with the Diversity Council in the MBG department in an effort to maximize the resources within the campus while distributing efforts more manageably to ultimately benefit every student in both the MBG department and the BBS program.  BBS and MBG+ Council have been collaboratively hosting events that welcome all students from both communities. All BBS students are also welcome to attend any events hosted by MBG Diversity Council including monthly training-only meeting, TWIP (sign up for practicing presentation, A-exam and receiving feedback from peers). To be more engaged, BBS students can also join any working groups to plan and host events with other MBG+ Diversity Council leaders.   To learn more about it, check out the website: MBG+ Diversity Council 

Meet the D&I Council Members

Hsin-Yun (Rachel) Chang

Email: hcc965@cornell.edu 

I am a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Dr. Siu Sylvia Lee, where I use functional genomic approaches to study the biology of aging. Originally from Taiwan, I earned a Master's degree in Brain Science before coming to the United States to pursue my Ph.D. in 2019.  I am passionate about mentoring, science policy and advocating for women in science. I actively foster collaboration between the BBS D&I Council and the MBG+ Diversity Council to maximize the resources available on campus for the benefit of students in both BBS program and MBG department. In my free time, I enjoy being in nature, trying new sports such as figure skating and windsurfing, exploring human paths in antique stores, and writing poetry.

Jingyi Chen

Email: jcc2786@cornell.edu 

I am a second-year PhD student in the Biomedical & Biological Science program with a concentration in molecular cellular medicine. I received my bachelor's degree in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. I am interested in pursuing cancer biology and immunology for my PhD study. But I am still in rotation to find a home lab. As a first-generation immigrant and college student, I believe everyone can do research if given appropriate opportunities. Therefore, I would like to engage in the Diversity & Inclusion Council to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the STEM field. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my dog.

Sharada Gopal

 

Email: sg2374@cornell.edu

Hello everyone! I am originally from Bangalore, India. My interest in research stems from my experience working in developmental biology back in India. My current research involves studying the relationship between reproduction and aging in worms. I love science and research and apart from that, I enjoy hiking the stunning trails in and around Ithaca, swimming and kayaking in the picturesque gorges and waterfalls in the upstate area. I also enjoy cooking for friends and family. Through the D&I council, I aim to learn more about everyone in our diverse and beautiful BBS program and learn what it means to provide an equitable environment for everyone to thrive in. 

Brandon James

Email: btj33@cornell.edu

Hi! My name is Brandon James, and I am a second-year BBS PhD Student in Dr. Meng Wang's lab. We are interested in investigating the endogenous sources of formaldehyde in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I am excited to be apart of the BBS DEI Council to help spread DEI awareness while making our BBS community come closer together. Outside of lab, I love to paint, paddleboard, and play with my cats Noodles and Franklin!